226 Bulletin 237. 



In the same Bulletin, at p. 34, Dr. Moore calls attention to two forms 

 of alfalfa bacteria, a branched form and a rod form, the former only 

 seeming to be a benefit to the host plant. Whether the thirteen cases in 

 which increased abundance of nodules are reported without any apparent 

 increase of vigor of the plants are due to the presence of the rod form 

 of bacteria or to inaccuracy of observation it is impossible to state. 



This data makes a rather disappointing showing for seed inoculation. 

 Only 17 per cent of the experiments indicate any benefit from the 

 treatment and in nearly all these cases the benefit while noticeable was 

 not very marked. The only marked case of benefit apparently due to 

 seed-inoculation coming to our notice during the two seasons' observa- 

 tions occurred in 1904 on the farm of Mr. Hallock in central Long 

 Island. Fig. 85 illustrates eight average plants grown from treated seed 

 on the left and eight average plants from untreated seed on the right. 

 These plats were inspected in October and the difference shown in the 

 field was as manifest as in the illustration. Both plats produced nodules 

 but they were much more abundant where inoculated seed was used. 

 October 30, 1905, Air. Hallock reports in regard to these plats : " In this 

 the second year from the seeding there is no appreciable difference be- 

 tween plats where seed was inoculated and where it was not. All roots 

 show nodules. The crop has been cut twice this year yielding moderately 

 well each time." 



In 1904 the cultures used for seed inoculation were prepared from 

 treated cotton furnished by the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 following the Department's directions. In 1905, treated cotton was se- 

 cured from the Department of Agriculture and from a commercial con- 

 cern for alfalfa and several other legumes and were placed in the hands 

 of Professor A. H. Harding, bacteriologist of the Geneva Station, for 

 examination. Professor Harding found these cottons wanting in live 

 alfalfa bacteria. (See Bulletin No. 270. New York State Experiment 

 Station.; However, he supplied a bottle of live cultures which were 

 further propagated in the usual way and the seed used in the 1905 ex- 

 periments was treated with these. 



Results of inoculation ivitli soil. — Seventeen reports giving data 

 relative to the effect of applications of soil from an old alfalfa field have 

 been received. Fifteen of these, or 88 per cent, report an increased abund- 

 ance of nodules resulting from the treatment, and all but one of those 

 thus reporting, state that there was also an increase in the growth and 

 vigor of the crop. The extent of the increase of growth of the crop was 

 much greater in those cases in which soil was used tlian where culture 

 inoculation of the seed was practised. This conclusion is based on both 

 an inspection of many of the plats by a representative of the College 



